IAAPA has announced its winners for this year’s Brass Ring Awards, recognising a number of companies at the annual IAAPA expo for their achievements in excellence across different parts of the industry.

Among the winners, Disney’s new Avatar attraction won the Judges Choice award, for its Banshee Rookery. For guests visiting Pandora at Animal Kingdom, The Rookery inside the Windtraders retail store is a commercial interactive experience where guest are helped to identify a favourite banshee from among 10 unique styles. Guests can then “adopt” a banshee, which will sit on their shoulder or alternatively on a perch.

Universal Studios Japan picked up a Brass Ring for Live Entertainment Excellence, with its Violin Trio - a world-renowned group of male musicians performing in perfect harmony for visitors to the park.

SeaWorld Orlando was also among this year’s winners, picking up the Brass Ring for Best Live "Edutainment" Show. Called Dolphin Days, the experience replaced the long-running Blue Horizons show - based around tricks and acrobats - earlier this year, with the new more natural show designed to educate audiences about the animals’ personalities.

The Image Award, given to the best exhibit based on booth design, branding, staffing, and overall appeal at IAAPA Attractions Expo, went to waterparks supplier Polin, with the supplier also picking up the award for Booth Size 1,201 and Larger Square Feet, and for Technology Applied to Amusements – Class A.

The full list of winner is included here:

Top Family Entertainment Center (FEC) of the World International: Dinosaur and I, Eastern European Company, Minsk, BelarusNorth America: Big Thrill Factory, Minnetonka, Minnesota, United States

Food and Beverage Excellence

Best New Innovation in Food and Beverage – Annual Attendance Less than 1 Million"The Stables," Sydney Royal Easter Show, Sydney, Australia

Best New Innovation in Food and Beverage – Annual Attendance More than 1 Million"BBLz," Hersheypark, Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States; www.hersheypark.com